Novel 3-enol ethers of 17alpha-haloethynyl 19-nor androstenes and methods for the preparation of same

ABSTRACT

THIS INVENTION IS CONCERNED GENERALLY WITH NOVEL STEROID COMPOUNDS AND PROCESSES OF PREPARING THE SAME. MORE PARTICULARLY, IT RELATES TO NOVEL 3-ENOL ETHERS OF 21-HALONORETHISTERONES AND THEIR $5(10)-ISOMERS, AND TO PROCESSES FOR PREPARING THESE NEW COMPOUNDS STARTING WITH 3METHOXY-2,5(10)-ANDROSTADIENE-17-ONE. THE 21HALONORETHISTERONES, THEIR $5(10)-ISOMERS, AND 3-ENOL ETHERS THEREOF, SUBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION, POSSESS USEFUL THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES AS ORALLY AND PARENTALLY ACTIVE PROGESTATIONAL AGENTS.

United States Patent O"ice NOVEL 3-ENOL ETHERS OF 17rx-HALOETHYNYL 19-NOR ANDROSTENES AND METHODS FOR THE PREPARATION OF SAME John Fried, Plainfield, N.J., assignor to Merck & Co.,

Inc., Rahway, N].

No Drawing. Continuation of application Ser. No. 99,668,

Mar. 31, 1961, which is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 88,575, Mar. 2, 1961. This application Dec. 15, 1969, Ser. No. 885,363

Int. Cl. C07c 169/08 US. Cl. 260-3974 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is concerned generally with novel steroid compounds and processes of preparing the same. More particularly, it relates to novel 3-enol ethers of 21-ha1onorethisterones and their M -isomers, and to processes for preparing these new compounds starting with 3- methoxy 2,5 10) androstadiene 17 one. The 21- halonorethisterones, their A500) isomers, and 3-enol ethers thereof, subject of the present invention, possess useful therapeutic properties as orally and parentally active progestational agents.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 99,668 filed Mar. 31, 1961, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 88,575 filed Mar. 2,-1961 now Pat. No. 3,072,646.

These 3-enol ethers of 2l-halonorethisterone and their M -isomers (i.e., 17a-haloethynyl-19-nor-3,5-'androstadiene-3,17,B-diol 3-ether and 17oc-h3l06thYIlY1-19-I1OI-3,5 (10) androstadiene 3,17/8 diol 3-ether) may be chemically represented as follows:

HO CECX HO CECX wherein X stands for chloro, bromo or fiuoro, and R is a hydrocarbon or substituted hlydrocarbon substituent as, for example, an aliphatic or substituted aliphatic radical such as alkyl or aralkyl, more particularly, methyl, ethyl, butyl, amyl, benzyl, a cycloaliphatic or cycoalkyl grouping such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like.

These 3-enol ethers of 2l-halonorethisterones and their A -isomers as well as the intermediate 3-ketones (i.e., 17a-haloethynyl-19-nor 4 androstene 17,9-ol-3-ones and 17a-haloethynyl-19-nor-5(10) androstene 175-01- 3-ones), are prepared, in accordance with the presently invented process, starting with 3 methoxy-19-nor-2, 5 androstadiene 17-one which has the following structural formula:

This 3-rnethoxy 19 nor 2,5 10)-androstadiene-17- one is reacted with a haloethyne to form the corresponding 17a-haloethynyl-3 methoxy 19 nor 2,5 (10)- CH O 3,595,884 Patented July 27, 1971 CEOX CHaO- wherein X stands for chloro, bromo or fiuoro.

In a preferred embodiment of this procedure, the hal0- ethyne is formed in situ by the reaction of a 1,2-dihaloethylene (preferably the cis form) and methyl lithium. For example, the 17a-chloroethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2, 5(10)-androstadiene-17fi-ol is prepared by adding a solution of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene in ether to a solution of methyl lithium at about 0 C. in ether. The reaction mixture is stirred under nitrogen for 1-2 hours, and to the resulting solution containing the chloroethyne is added 3-methoxy-l9-nor-2,5(10) androstadiene-17-one, and stirring is continued for several hours longer.

The l7a-haloethynryl-3 methoxy 19 nor-2,5(10)- androstadiene-Ufl 01 is converted into the 17a-haloethynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one (i.e., the Zl-halonorethisterone) which has the following formula:

wherein X stands for chloro, bromo or fluoro, and R is a hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon substituent as, for example, an aliphatic or substituted aliphatic radical such as alkyl or aralkyl, more particularly, methyl, ethyl, butyl, amyl, benzyl, a cycloaliphatic or cycloalkyl grouping such as cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, and the like, by stirring together a mixture of the steroid and an alkyl, cycloalkyl or aralkyl orthoformate in dioxane solution in the presence of a strong acid catalyst, for example, organic sulfonic acid.

In a preferred procedure, the novel 3-enol ethers of the 170: haloethynyl-l7fi-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-ones are prepared by adding an alkyl orthoformate, a cycloalkyl orthoformate, or aralkyl orthoformate, such as ethyl orthoformate, propyl orthoformate, n-butyl orthoorthoformate, cyclopentyl orthoformate, cyclohexyl orthoformate, benzyl orthoformate, and the like, and an acidic catalyst such as 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, and thelike, to a solution of the steroid in dioxane and stirring the resulting mixtures together at room temperature. The acidic catalyst is then neutralized with a base such as pyridine, and'the 17u-haloethynyl-17B hydroxy-19 nor-4-androstene-3-one 3-enol ether, as for example, 3 alkoxy-17u-hal0ethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7-ol, such as 3-ethoxy-l7wchloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5- androstadiene 17/3-01; 3-propoxy-17a-fiuoroethynyl-l9- nor 3,5-androstadiene-l7-ol; 3-11-bl1tOXY-170t-Ch10l'O6thynyl 19 nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7-01; 3-cycloalkoxy-17ahaloethynyl 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17fl-ol, such as 3- cyclopentyloxy l7-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,S-androstadiene 17B 01;, 3 benzyloxy-17a-fluoroethyny1-19-nor-3,5- androstadiene 17/3-01; 3-hexylo'xy-l7a-chloroethynyl-l9- nor 3,5-androstadien-17-ol; 3-aralkoxy-17-ha1oethynyll9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7B-ol, such as 3-benzyloxy-17achloroethynyl 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01; 3-benzyl- OXY-17oc fluoroethynyl 19-nor-3,S-androstadiene-l75-01; and the like, are recovered from the neutralized reaction mixture.

The flat-haloethynyl-17,6-hydroxy-l9nor-4-androstene- 3-one 3-enol ethers, other than the 3-enol ethyl ethers, are conveniently prepared starting with said 3-enol ethyl ether (e.g., 3-ethoxy-17a-haloethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17B-ol) by mixing together the latter compound and an inert hydrocarbon solvent such as isooctane and an alcohol such as, for example, an aliphatic alcohol such as propanol, n-butyl alcohol, amyl alcohol, a cycloaliphatic alcohol, as, for example, a cycloalkanol such as cyclohexanol, cyclopentanol, an araliphatic alcohol, as, for example, an aralkanol such as benzyl alcohol, and the like, and an acidic catalyst such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, and heating the resulting mixture, preferably under reflux, in an apparatus equipped with means for removing the Water from the distillate and returning the dry distillate to the reaction mixture. The acid catalyst is then neutralized with a base such as pyridine, and the resulting neutral solution is evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give the 17a-haloethynyl 17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene 3-enol ether, which is conveniently purified by crystallization from methanol containing traces of pyridine, or by chromatography.

The 6-chloro-l7 tit-haloethynyl-l7fl-hydroxy-19-nor-4,6- androstadiene-S-one may be prepared in a multiple-step process from the 3-enol ethers of the l7a-haloethynyl-l7fihydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one by reaction first with N-bromosuccinimide to give 65 bromo-17a-haloethynyl- 17,3-hydroxy-l9-nor-4-androstene-3-one which has the following formula:

H l l I Br CECX

hydroxy 19-nor-4,6-androstadiene-3-one which has the following formula:

wherein X is chloro, bromo or fiuoro. The dehydrobromination is conveniently brought about by heating a solution of the steroid in a solvent such as dimethylformaide with lithium bromide and lithium carbonate for several hours at about C.

The above compound is then oxidized to the 60:,70cepoxy-Nix-haloethynyl-17fl-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene- 3-one which has the following formula:

wherein X is chloro, bromo or fluoro, conveniently by treating a solution of the steroid in a solvent such as benzene with perbenzoic acid in the dark at room temperature for about 60-70 hours.

A solution of the 6a,7a epoxy-l7a-haloethynyl-17B- hydroxy-l9-nor-4-androstene-3-one in an organic solvent is treated with CH1 at room temperature to form 6-chloro-l7a haloethynyl 17fl-hydroxy-l9-nor-4,6-a ndrostadi ene-3-one which has the following formula:

HO CEO-X wherein X is chloro, bromo or fluoro.

The l7a-haloethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5 10)-androstadiene-l713-ol may be converted into Not-haloethynyl- 17 B-hydroxy-l9-nor-5 (10) -androstene-3-one which has the following formula:

wherein X stands for chloro, bromo or fiuoro, by reaction with a weak organic acid such as acetic acid. For example, a mixture of the steroid and glacial acetic acid in an aqueous solution of absolute ethanol and dioxane is left standing at room temperature for several hours.

The 17a-haloethynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4,9-androstadiene-3-one which has the following formula:

wherein X stands for chloro, bromo or fiuoro, may be prepared by treatment of 17a-haloethynyl-Uri-hydroxy- 19-nor-5(10)-androstene-3-one with approximately one equivalent of bromine in pyridine solution, or with pyridine perbromide hydrobromide.

The following examples illustrate methods of carrying out the present invention, but it is to be understood that these examples are given for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.

EXAMPLE 1 A solution consisting of 1.7 g. (1.32 cc.) of cis-1,2-dichloroethylene in cc. of sodium-dried ether is added over 0.5 hour at 0 C. to 3 cc. of a 1.4 N-solution of methyl lithium (prepared by adding lithium to methyl iodide in dry ether solution under nitrogen at about 10 C.) in 25 cc. of sodium-dried ether. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature under nitrogen for an additional 1 /2 hours, followed by the addition, over a minute period, of 100 mg. of 3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)- androstadiene-17-one in 4 cc. of sodium-dried ether. The mixture is left stirring at room temperature overnight, poured into ice water and extracted with ether. The ether extracts are washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. The residue is chromatographed on 10 g. of basic alumina. The product is eluted with petroleum etherzether 8 :2. Crystallization from acidfree methanol affords 48 mg. of 17a-chloroethynyl-3 methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)-androstadiene-17fl-ol, MP. 112 115 C.

Analysis.Calculated for C H O Cl (percent): C, 72.71; H, 7.85. Found (percent): C, 72.85; H, 8.13. [a] +68.6 (c.=1 in dioxane).

In accordance with the above procedures, but using 1,2- dibolnoethylene in place of 1,2-dichloroethylene, there is obtained the 1704 bromoethynyl 3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5 (10 -androstadiene-1 75-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but using 1- chloro-2-fluoroethylene in place of 1,2-dichloroethylene, there is obtained a mixture of the 17a-chloroethynyl and the 17oz fluoroethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)-androstadiene-17/3-ol, which compounds are separated by chromatography.

EXAMPLE 2 A solution consisting of 10 mg. of 17u-chloroethynyl-3- methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)-androstadiene-17,8-ol, 2 cc. of acetone and 2 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is left standing at room temperature overnight. The reaction mixture is then poured into ice water and extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo. Crystallization from ethyl acetate affords 17ot-chloroethynyl 17B 19 nor 4 androstene-3-one, M.P. 185190 C.,

LR. x3131? 2.95, 4.50, 6.10, 621

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with the 17a'bromoethynyl or 17u-fiuoroethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)-androstadiene-l7,8-ol in place of the 1704 chloroethynyl 3 methoxy 19 nor 2,5 (10) andr0stadiene-17p-ol this is obtained as products the corresponding Nix-bromoethynyl or 17a-fluoroethynyl-17fl-hydroxy-l9-nor-4-androstene-3-one.

EXAMPLE 3 To a solution of mg. of 17ot-chloro-ethynyl-17 3-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one in 3 cc. of dioxane is added 2 cc. of ethyl orthoformate and 10 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid. The reaction mixture is stirred at room temperature for 3 hours and 1 cc. of pyridine is added, followed by the dropwise addition of 5 cc. of water. The aqueous phase is separated and extracted with benzene. The organic extracts are washed with a sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water until the washings are neutral. The organic phase is dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated in vacuo to give 13-ethoxy-17mchloro ethynyl-19-nor-3,S-androstadiene-l7,8-01.

LR. mg? 2.86, 4.50, 6.05, 6.15,.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with the Not-bromoethynyl or the 17a-fluoroethynyl-17B- hydroxy-19-nor-4 androstene-3-one in place of the 170:- chloroethynyl 17p hydroxy 19 nor 4 androstene- 3-one there are obtained as products the corresponding l7a-bromoethynylor the 17a-fluoro-ethynyl-3-ethoxy-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-1773-01.

EXAMPLE 4 A mixture of 100 mg. of 17a-chloroethynyl-175-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one, 0.06 g. of 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, 3 ml. of dry dioxane and 0.25 ml. of freshly distilled n-butyl orthoformate are stirred overnight at 30 C. The acid catalyst is then neutralized by addition of 0.1 ml. of pyridine. The reaction mixture is diluted with water and extracted with ether. The combined ether extracts are washed with water, dried and evaporated under reduced pressure. The residue is chromatographed over alumina (alkaline) and eluted with mixtures of ether and petroleum ether to separate 3-butoxy-17a-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5--androstadiene-175-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with the Hot-bromoethynyl or the 17a-fluoroethynyl-17fihydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-0n-e in place of the 1711- chloroethynyl 17 3 hydroxy 19 nor 4 androstene- 3-one there are obtained as products the corresponding Not-bromoethynyl or the 17u-flu-oroethynyl-3-butoxy-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-17fl-ol.

EXAMPLE 5 A solution consisting of 1 g. of 3-ethoxy-17a-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7fi-ol, 700 mg. of sodium acetate, 5 ml. of water and 40 m1. of acetone is cooled to 0 C. and 1.07 g. of N-bromosuccinimide and 0.83 ml. of acetic acid is added. The mixture is stirred for 3 hours at 0.5 C. and then poured into water to yield the 6 8 bromo 17u-chloroethyny1-17/3-hydroxy-19-nor-4- androstene-3-one Treatment of 6,8 bromo 17a chloroethynyl-17fl-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one (1.0 g.) with 1.0 g. of lithium bromide, 500 mg. of lithium carbonate and 20 ml. of dimethylformamide for 5 hours at C., followed by dilution with ice water and filtration affords 17achloroethynyl 17,8 hydroxy-19-nor-4,6-androstadiene-3- one.

A solution consisting of 675 mg. of 17u-chloroethynyl- 17B-hydroxy-19-nor-4,6-androstadiene-3-one, 30 ml. of 0.2 N-perbenzoic acid dissolved in benzene and 30 ml. of ether is allowed to stand at room temperature in the dark for 68 hours. The resulting benzene-ether solution is washed with acidified sodium bisulfite solution, water, 2.5 Nqpotassiuni hydroxide solution, and again with water. The Washed benzene-ether reaction solution is dried and evaporated in vacuo to give 606,70t-6POXY-170L-ChlOIOthynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one.

The 604,7a epoxy 17a chloroethyny1-17fi-hydroxyl9-nor-4-androstene-3-one is dissolved in 20 ml. of a 0.4

N solution of hydrogen chloride in chloroform, and the resulting solution is allowed to stand for 5.5 hours at room temperature. The reaction solution is then poured into iced sodium bicarbonate solution. The aqueous mixture is extracted with chloroform, and the chloroform extract is evaporated to dryness in vacuo. The residual material is chromatographed on acid-washed alumina (20 g.) and eluted with ether-petroleum ether mixtures to give 6 chloro 170: chloroethynyl-17fl-hydroxy-19-nor-4,6- androstadiene-S-one.

In accordance with the above procedures, but starting with the 3-ethoxy-(17a-bromoethynylor 17a-fluoroethynyl) 19 nor 3,5 androstadiene-17 8-ol in place of the 3 ethoxy 17a chloroethynyl 19 nor 3,5 androstadiene-17fl-ol there are obtained as products the corresponding 6-chloro-(17a-bromoethynylor 17a-fluoroethynyl)-17,6-hydroxy-19 nor-4,6-androstadiene-3-one.

EXAMPLE 6 To a solution of 160 mg. of 17u-chloroethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5(10)-androstadiene-17/3-ol in 1.6 cc. of dioxane and 7.2 cc. of absolute ethanol is added 3.2 cc. of glacial acetic acid, and immediately thereafter, 1.6 cc. of water. This reaction mixture is left standing at room temperature for hours. It is then poured into an ice/ sodium bicarbonate solution, allowed to stand until the mixture is basic and extracted with benzene. The benzene extracts are washed with water until the washings are only slightly basic and then dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, filtered and concentrated in vacuo using a water bath at 30-50 C. By crystallization of the residual material from ether, about 90 mg. of Hot-chloroethynyl- 17fi-hydroxy-19-nor-5 -androstene-3-one is obtained, U.V. no max;

LR. m3? 2.98, 4.50, 5.90 11.

In accordance with the above procedures, but starting with the 17a-bromoethyny1- or the 17a-fluoroethynyl-3- methoxy-19-nor-2,5 (10)-androstadiene-175-o1 in place of the 17a chloroethynyl 3 methoxy 19 nor 2,5 (10)- androstadiene-17fl-ol there are obtained as products the corresponding 17ubromoethyny1- or Not-chloroethynyl- 17B-hydroxy-19-nor-5 10) -androstene-3-one.

EXAMPLE 7 To 100 mg. of 17u-chloroethynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor- 5(10)-androstene-3-one in 5 cc. of pyridine is added one equivalent of bromine. The reaction mixture is stirred for two hours at room temperature, poured into ice Water and the aqueous mixture extracted with ether. The ether extract is washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate, and concentrated in vacuo to yield l7a-chloroethynyl-17B- hydroxy-19-nor-4,9-androstadiene-3-one.

In accordance with the above procedures, but starting with the l7a-bromoethynylor the 17afluoroethynyl-17flhydroxy-19-nor-5(10)-androstene-3-one in place of the 17oz chloroethynyl 17 3 hydroxy 19 nor 5(10)- androstene-3-one there are obtained as products the corresponding 17a-bromoethynylor the 17a-fluoroethynyl- 175-hydroxy-19-nor-4,9-androstadiene-3-one.

EXAMPLE 8 A mixture of 50 mg. of 3-ethoxy-Hot-chloroethynyl-l9- nor-3,5-androstadiene-17 3-01, 5.5 ml. of isooctane, 25 mg. of cyclohexanol and 2.5 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is heated under reflux for a period of approximately 32 hours in an apparatus providing for the separation of water from the condensate before return to the refluxing mixture. The reaction mixture is cooled, 0.1 ml. of pyridine is added to neutralize the p-toluenesulfonic acid catalyst, and the liquid is completely evaporated in vacuo to dryness to give as the residual product 3-cyclohexyloxy- Not-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with 3-ethoxy 17a bromoethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-ol in place of the 3-ethoxy-Net-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17,8-01, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-cyc1ohexyloxy-17u-bromoethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-1713-01. Similarly, when 3 ethoxy a fluoroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene- -01 is utilized as starting material in the foregoing procedure, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-cyclohexy1oxy 170a fluoroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17p3-ol.

EXAMPLE 9 A mixture of 50 mg. of 3-ethoxy-17u-chloroethyny1-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-17B-ol, 5.5 ml. of isooctane, 25 mg. of n-butanol and 2.5 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is heated under reflux for a period of approximately 32 hours in an apparatus providing for the separation of water from condensate before return to the refluxing mixture. The reaction mixture is cooled, 0.1 ml. of pyridine is added to neutralize the p-toluenesulfonic catalyst, and the liquid is completely evaporated to dryness in vacuo to give as the residual product 3-n-butoxy-17a-ch1oroethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17,6-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with 3-ethoxy 17a bromoethynyl-l9-nor-3,S-androstadiene-17fl-ol in place of the 3-ethoxy-Nix-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-n-butoxy-l7u-tbromoethynyl 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17,8-01. Similarly, when 3-ethoxy-17a-fluoroethyny1-19-nor-3,5 androstadiene-17B-ol is utilized as starting material in the foregoing procedure, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-n-butoxy- 17 u-fluoroethynyl- 1 9-nor-3 ,5 -androstadiene- 1 7 8-01.

EXAMPLE 10 A mixture of 50 mg. of 3-ethoxy-flat-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17fl-ol, 5.5 ml. of isooctane, 25 mg. of cyclopentanol and 2.5 mg. of p-toluenesulfonic acid is heated under reflux for a period of approximately 32 hours in an apparatus providing for the separation of water from the condensate before return to the refluxing mixture. The reaction mixture is cooled, 0.1 ml. of pyridine is added to neutralize the p-toluenesulfom'c catalyst, and the liquid is completely evaporated in vacuo to dryness to give as the residual product 3-cyclopentyloxy- Hoe-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-1718-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with 3-ethoxy 17oz bromoethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17,8-o1 in place of the 3-ethoxy-Wot-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-1713-01, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-cyclopentyloxy-17a-bromoethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene 175 01. Similarly, when 3-ethoxy-17u-fiuoroethynyl 19 nor-3,5-androstadiene- 1713-01 is utilized as starting material in the foregoing procedure, the is obtained as product the corresponding 3-cyclopentyloxy-l7a-fluoroethynyl 19 nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-ol.

EXAMPLE 11 A mixture of 50 mg. of 3-ethoxy-flat-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17p-ol, 5.5 m1. of isooctane, 25 mg. of benzyl alcohol and 2.5 mg. of p-toluenesulfom'c acid is heated under reflux for a period of approximately 32 hours in an apparatus providing for the separation of water from the condensate before return to the refluxing mixture. The reaction mixture is cooled, 0.1 m1. of pyridine is added to neutralize the p-toluenesulfonic catalyst, and the liquid is completely evaporated in vacuo to dryness to give as the residual product 3-benzyloxy- 17u-chloroethyny1-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-1713-01.

In accordance with the above procedure, but starting with 3-ethoxy 171x bromoethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7 8-ol in place of the 3-ethoxy-1Wat-chloroethynyl- 19-nor-3,S-androstadiene-175-01, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-benzyloxy-l7a-bromoethynyl-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01. Similarly, when 3-ethoxy- 17a-fluoroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7B-ol is utilized as starting material in the foregoing procedure, there is obtained as product the corresponding 3-benzyloxy-17afluoroethynyl-19-nor-3,S-androstadiene-Ufi-ol.

Various changes and modifications may be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Insofar as these changes and modifications are within the purview of the annexed claims, they are to be considered as part of our invention.

What is claimed is:

1. 17oz haloethynyl-17fl-hydroxy-19-nor-androstene-3- one-3-enol ethers.

2. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical 3-lower alkoxy-lh-haloethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-l7fl-ol.

3. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-ethoxy-17ot-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17B-ol.

4. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-butoxy-l7a-chloroethynyl-19-nor-3,5-androstadiene- 175-01.

5. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-cycloalkoxy-17a-haloethynyl-19-nor-3,5- androstadiene-17fl-ol.

6. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-cyclopentyloxy-17a-chloroethynyl-l9- 3,5-androstadienel7/3-ol.

7. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-cyclopentyloxy-l7a-fluoroethynyl-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01.

8. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-cycl0hexyloxy-17a-ch1oroethynyl-19- nor-3,5-androstadiene-173-01.

9. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-cyclohexyloxy-17afluoroethynyl-19-nor- 3,5-androstadiene-17.8-01.

10. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-aralkoxy-17a-haloethynyl-l9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-17/3-ol.

lltl

11. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-benzyloxy-17a-fluoroethyny1-19-nor-3,5- androstadiene-Ufl-ol.

12. The compound as defined in claim 1 having the chemical name 3-b6I1Zy1OXy-17OL-Ch1OI'O6thyI1yl-19-IlOI-3,5- androstadiene-17/3-ol.

13. The process for the preparation of 17a-haloethynyl- 3 methoxy 19-nor-2,5 (10)-androstadiene-17fi-ol, which comprises reacting 3-methoxy-19-I1or-2,5(10)-androstadiene-l7-one with a haloethyne.

14. The process for the preparation of 3-alkoXy-17othaloethynyl-19-nor-3,S-androstadiene-17,8-ol which comprises reacting l7ot-haloethynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one with an alkyl orthoformate in the presence of an acidic catalyst.

15. The process which comprises reacting 17a-ha1oethynyl-17,8-hydroxy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one with a cycloalkyl orthoformate in the presence of an acidic catalyst, thereby forming the corresponding 3-cycloa1koxy-17a-haloethynyll9-nor-3,5-androstadiene-175-01.

16. The process which comprises reacting 17a-haloethynyl-l7fi-hydroxy-l9-nor-4-androstene-3-one with a cycloaralkyl orthoformate in the presence of an acidic catalyst, thereby forming the corresponding 3-cycloaralkoxy-l7ahaloethyny1-19-nor-3 ,S-androstadiene- 176-01.

17. The process for the preparation of l7a-haloethynyll7,8-hydr0xy-19-nor-4-androstene-3-one which comprises reacting 17a haloethynyl-3-methoxy-19-nor-2,5 l0)-androstadiene-Ufl-ol with a strong acid.

No references cited.

ELBERT L. ROBERTS, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 260-397.5, 2395s 

